The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-02-02

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that only such things, or thoughts, or
principles, or feelings, could be digni-
fed as truths that were in large degree
pure and perfect expressions OF The
beautiful power that lay be,iiad it all. !"
John Earrings face lighted as she
spoke. .'Ah, you hit it quicker than
liz he laughed. 81 was sure your
woman-wit would distance ME.
mo, no." she cried; ''it only hap.
pened to be q portion of hobby OF
mine. Please don't think me so
clever"
ooh. here you are" cried Mrs.
Brayton, cheerily, from the porch.
"Come in; breakfast is ready"
CHAPTER XIV.
That afternoon they went to drive
again, and the face of the world
seemed as fresh as the face of a child.
Why should they not be gladp The
vast sweet ground as far as the eye
could see was spread with greenest
velvet, the lanes were rivers of light,
and everywhere were dimplings in the
stream-divided valleys and tiickerin gs
on the forest-covercd hills.
They drove long way through the
fragrant country, crying out at this
and that, talking of hundred things,
springing out here and there to get
flowers, with Mrs Brayton and lady
companion older than herself seeming
quite ignited by the day and John Ear
ling's and Celeste's delight The
young girl seemed not able to cover
up her heart Its gladness and music
were in her voice and face and eyes.
John EARRING thought she could not
possibly be more beautiful, and indeed
head cooled by u deal of time might
we'll have felt like warm streak run
through it.
But when they turned back the day
seemed not so bright, for they met a
foot-sore younr foreigner with q bum
die over his shoulder, and piteons
hungry face, limping away toward the
west; and afterwards, when nearer the
city, on passing a factory their car
riage was stopped while some men
carried an injured workman across the
street to his little house, and they
heard the distracted wife crying out
through her tears aud wringing hands,
of rent that could not be paid now and
doctors bills, her agony over her hus-
bands hurt being pricked through by
the fear of death and want All, it
was hard world, after all! Not alto
gether q tioWery island floating in a
sea of dreams! John EARRING sprang
down with grave face and hurried in
after the men, and Celeste, with tears
in her eyes, hearing the wounded man S
cries and the woman's wailing, fol-
lowed him. In a moment more Mrs.
Brayton with her friend were with
them in the poor little house, and
when an hour later they drove
away, the sunshine of good fortune
had penetrated to the poor wife's
pocket despite the wings of terror that
lowered over her. A little time after
that they came into one of the splendid
suburbs of Cincinnati, with its beauti-
full drives and magnificent houses, and
their tongues were loosened.
''This is beauty, but scarcely truth
as Keats saw it," said John Earring to
Celeste, with a sweep of the head
toward the great dwellings.
:'No,n she said, with a quick look,
'palaces are usually built out of novels,
that far they are false and not beauti-
full"
1.-The truth employed suppose be.
ing about equivalent to the mortar9"
"Perhaps; look at that strutting pile
of grandure" she said, with fine an
ger, ''one-fourth of it would house
any family in comfort! Is not every
splendid stone, every fine pane, every
ornament within and without the
balance of it privation to some one?
lost opportunity, buried pleasure,
a hunger, thirst want? Oh, l do
so wish that the poor and uncomfort-
able might only have that which is
waste and surplus to the rich, and
which believe were it divided on the
heart of God belongs to the poor!'
Here was John Earnings thought
and topmost wish! He could have
knelt and worshipped her.
"Celeste! Celestep' said Mrs. Bray
ton, with warning smile.
'Tut! why, you little Communist
said the elder lady. what would be
come of civilization"
"Ah, that is what I long forn' said
Celeste. Civilization and the death
of display and seltishness. What is all
this shining srrfeit OF luxury here with
penury and hardship over in the val.
ley there, but fine brutality, a beau.
tiful barbarism?''
"Why, what in the world is civiliza.
ton if this is not it?' asked the lady,
running her eye along the sumptuous
houses.
II do not think" said the girl, qui
| city, THAT grand grounds. palatia
buildings and a thousand other mar
wells of the time are civilization, but
rather the outgrowth OF pride, plethora
and power. Civilization, it seems tc
me, is tineness and kindness and hon.
esty in human hearts. If the time ever
comes when man, out of a fine sense Of
justice, shall be unwilling to hold more
than what he needs, and shall turn the
balance back to the sore and thirsty
source from which it came, then, i
seems to me, and not till then, shall he
cease to be greedy animal"
The young mans eyes glowed as he
listened to this slender girl, and saw
her clear heart, with that same longing
and pity in it that filled his own.
"Oh, that day will never come,
cried the lady; sit isn't in the nature
of things, is it, Mr. Earlingp"
John Earnings nostrils dilated, hut
he spoke very gently. cit may not, but
| should dislike to think it could not
am afraid my pride would suffer die
| feel that | was in race incapable O